NFL QB takes in workout at Elon

By Adam Smith / Times-News

Published: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:46 AM.

ELON — Even with recent alum Scott Riddle, the Southern Conference’s all-time leading passer, hanging out in the parking lot, the was no disputing who was the most accomplished quarterback at Elon University’s first spring football scrimmage.

Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.

The guy who soon could become one of the NFL’s highest-paid players — he’s due a raise after the 2013 season, the final year of his current contract — looked on while keeping a relatively low profile last weekend at Rhodes Stadium.

He sat in the bleachers with his uncle Saturday, wore a maroon and gold “Elon Football” cap and watched his cousin, John Loughery, who’s one of three quarterbacks competing to be the starter for the Phoenix.

“It just worked out with the timing for me,” Ryan said. “I’m not available in the fall to be able to come up and see the guys. But during the spring I’ve got a little more time.

“It’s an easy drive from Atlanta. So I just wanted to get up here, see my family and see some old friends and be able to get a chance to watch them play.”

Ryan was able to visit with Elon coach Jason Swepson, a pal for more than a decade, who recruited him to Boston College out of William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, where he starred in football, basketball and baseball.

ELON — Even with recent alum Scott Riddle, the Southern Conference’s all-time leading passer, hanging out in the parking lot, the was no disputing who was the most accomplished quarterback at Elon University’s first spring football scrimmage.

Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.

The guy who soon could become one of the NFL’s highest-paid players — he’s due a raise after the 2013 season, the final year of his current contract — looked on while keeping a relatively low profile last weekend at Rhodes Stadium.

He sat in the bleachers with his uncle Saturday, wore a maroon and gold “Elon Football” cap and watched his cousin, John Loughery, who’s one of three quarterbacks competing to be the starter for the Phoenix.

“It just worked out with the timing for me,” Ryan said. “I’m not available in the fall to be able to come up and see the guys. But during the spring I’ve got a little more time.

“It’s an easy drive from Atlanta. So I just wanted to get up here, see my family and see some old friends and be able to get a chance to watch them play.”

Ryan was able to visit with Elon coach Jason Swepson, a pal for more than a decade, who recruited him to Boston College out of William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, where he starred in football, basketball and baseball.

One of Swepson’s in-game responsibilities as a Boston College assistant coach was relaying play calls to Ryan on the field. Their bond that began developing 12 years ago remains ever-present.

“He’s the best, man,” Ryan said. “Swep recruited me back in the day, and so he has seen me play, I think, every sport I ever played. He was great while I was at Boston College. This place hired a good guy.”

Rather than stand on the sidelines during Elon’s scrimmage, Ryan chose a spot in the stadium bleachers.

“I’m a behind-the-scenes guy,” he said.

Afterward, as people realized his identity and approached him, Ryan was gracious and good-natured, signing autographs and posing for photos and submitting to a quick interview.